After a long train journey, we arrived at Nuremberg Airport as a family with two children and were looking forward to a short stay in the Dürer Lounge. We just wanted to freshen up, have a drink, and relax for a few minutes before our flight.
We use lounges regularly and therefore know what to expect.
Unfortunately, we received an extremely unfriendly welcome right at the entrance. The young woman at reception (blonde hair, glasses, ponytail) greeted us neither with a smile nor a friendly word. Instead, she immediately told us we "didn't have time for the lounge anymore, as boarding had already begun."
However, there were still about 30 minutes until boarding, plenty of time for a short stay. The message could have been phrased more politely; instead, it felt as if we were simply unwelcome, especially as a family, while solo business travelers were welcomed in without any fuss.
I ended up checking in myself just to use the restroom, which, by the way, could have been cleaner. A quick glance into the lounge revealed a solid, but unremarkable, selection of food and drinks, as well as ample seating. Perfectly adequate for a small airport.
First impressions count, and here it was completely ruined by the unfriendly, dismissive reception. It's especially disappointing that families seem to be less welcome. With a bit more friendliness and a greater focus on service, the rating would have been significantly better.